Method and apparatus for pressing disk sound records without the aid of heating and cooling mediums



Jan. 22, 1924. 1,481,743.

T. C. ROBERTS UND RECORDS WITHOUT THE AID DIUMS INVENTOR THEODORE C ROBERTS O OLING ME METHOD ANU APPARATUS FOR PRESSING DISK S OF HEATING AND CO Filed May 6 maar am. a, ieee.,

THEODORE C. ROBERTS, F NEW YORK, N. Y., ASSIGNCR T0 COLUMBIA-GRPHOPHONE MANUFACTURING COMPANY, 0F BRlDGEPORT, CONNECTICUT, A. CORPORATION OF DELAWARE.

METHOD AND APPARATUS FOR DRESSING- DISK SOUND RECORDS WITHOUT THE 0F HETING AND ApplicationI led may 6,

To all whom t may concern.'

Be it known that I, THEoDoRE C. ROBERTS, .a citizen of the United States, and a resident of the city of New York, county and State of New York, have invented certain` new ,and useful Improvements in Methods and Apparatus for Pressing Disk Sound Records Without the Aid of Heating and (1001-. ing Mediums, of which the following, takenV in connection with the accompanying drawin s, is a specification.

his invention relates to an improved method of pressing phonograph records of disk type from thermoplastic composition, and more especially to the press equipment and the form of matrix used in this improved method.

A. principal object of this improvement is to provide a matrix shell adapted to be heated solely 'by the heat from the'record material, thereby eliminating the usual complicated press equipment required for heating the matrices after each record has been pressed and removed, and prior to the introduction of -the material forv the next record.

Another object is to provide a matr1x shell which will also allow the plastic rec-v ord to be quickly cooled in the press sufficiently to be safely removed therefrom and without the use of cooling waterwith its complicated press equipment. y

Finally, an object is to reduce to a minimum the time required to manufacture each record.

These and other objects will be more fully brought outl in the following specification, illustrated in the, drawings, andcovered in the appended claims. For clear- 40 ness, three modified forms of the-improved matrix are shown, each embodying the principle of this invention.

In order to more fully bringout the working features and advantages of this invention, a brief outline of the present method of manufacturing such records will be first considered.

. The records are pressed from a matrix, which is simply an elect-rotype in the negacooLrNe m'nnrmus.

1921.1 serial m5. 467,364.

tive of an ordinary wax record containing the original tone-lines. The matrix being relatively thin, in order to impart the necessary rigidity for press use, a relatively thick copper plate is solderedA or otherwise fas-I tened to its back. This reinforced matrix etv them. Finally, the pressed record Fis hardened while still under compression in the closed press, vby circulating cold water through enclosures or water jackets which are placed as near as possible to the matrices. When the record has hardened sufficiently to permit of its removal from the press, the cold water is turned oil and the record taken out. `Steam is then admitted to the platens in place of the cold waterv and serves as a heating medium to again raise the temperature of the platens and their v plicated and expensive machine equipment for introducing and discharging the heating and cooling media, but moreover, they consume valuable machine time, and greatly cutdown quantity production; for the operators time is almost entirely taken up both in heating the vrecord materlal preparatory to inserting it in the' press and 1n cooling and finally removing the hardened record.

The method and structure embodied in this linvention accomplishes 'the purpose Vsought in a. far simpler and more effective way than anything heretofore attempted, it being based upon the discovery that externally applied heating and cooling media. are entirelyA unnecessary to the rapid production of records. A brief outline of the probable lphenomena, which take place in the manufacture of records, is as follows:

Since it is necessary to heat the record stock before it is introduced into the press in order to obtain the initial degree of plasticity required, no further heating either of kthe matrices or press platens would be necessary but for' the fact that the complete matrices with their supporting backs and press -platens'present a( considerable heatcontaining reservoir of metal into which the relativelv small heat content of the record .material is quickly dissipated; likewise when the operation is reversed and the cooling medium turned on, the time interval necessary to cool the record sufficiently to permit it eliminates the expensive pressequipment I this new method will be understood by reout the several views.

now used for this alternate heating and cooling. of the matrices.

The improved matrix structure used with erence to the annexed drawing, in which- Figure 1 is a cross section of one form of the matrix with its supporting die, and taken through a diameter thereof, as through line A-A of Fig. 4;

Fig. 2 is a partial or broken-away view of a similar cross section of 'a modified form of the invention;

Fig. 3 is :a view, similar to Fig. 2, of still another modification; and

Fig. 4 is. a perspective view of the complete matrix structure with its reinforcing back.

Like numerals refer to like parts through- The matrix shell, or e-lectrotype, is indicated by numeral 1, its inneredgeswhich surround a center cut-out portion, being flanged downward or bent at rightangles to the surface of the matrix, as shown at 1a.

This record-i'orming` shell 1, minus the thick copper plate usually soldered thereto, 1s then mounted in ai supportingdie or plate 3 formed/of a relatively thick plate of steel. Between the matrix shell 1,"and the supporting plate 3 is placed a heat-insulating means, indicated by numeral 2 of Fig'. 1. This insulating means consists of one or more .thin layers of any good relativelyincompressible insulating media, such as pressed asbestos, fibre, etc. Fig. 1 shows but one relatively thick sheet 2` of this insulatlon; Fig. 2 shows three thin layers 10; and

merma Fig. 3 shows three still thinner layers 11, separated by metallic laninations 13. This last arrangement is advantageous in that it provides a less yielding backing between the matrix and its support, and it 'further alters the specific heat of the material, this possibly being of value in some cases. It will,

of course, be apparent that by varying the trix-support, and (4) the insulating mate' rial; or (5) various combinations and per-- mutations of these ratios. Again, by this means` there is obtained a control over both the initial and final temperatures at diferentcparts of the pressing apparatus, and over the time interval required VJfor the heat flow to or from the different parts.

It will be further noted that this matrix structure can be so proportioned as to obtain and hold substantially the same temperature at each instant, as has the hot recordvstock in contact with it, until the record material has cooled suiliciently to allow its removal. This is accomplished byv merely proportioning and distributing the thermal capacities and conductivities of various parts of the matrix structure, as described, until this condition obtains.. Thus the matrix shell is initially raised to a temperature of about 225 F., being heated from the heat of the record stock; and as heat is diffused through the insulating media and the record material gradually cools, the matrix is maintained atl substantially the same temperature as the record material until the record is removed. In this manner the use of auxiliary heating and cooling apparatus l is eliminated.

From the above, it will be seen that the matrices and the record-material may be pre-heated to conjointly supply the heat units necessary to make the material plastic. The heat stored in. thema'trices ma as above pointed out, be supplied by irect heat-"transference from the record-material in the revious pressing operation, or it may be app ied to the matrices in other ways--by an electric stove, such as is used for heating the record-material, for instance.A Further, the matrices'alone may be heated to have stored-up in them the heat units necessary to make the record-material plastic, and to 130 For..

memes themselves remain at the temperature necessary for proper molding, the record-material being supplied to the matrices at or about room temperature. A

Considering the above facts in the light of present-day manufacturing methods, the vast significance of this discovery will be readily apparent.

The center of the supporting plate 3 is preferably cored to receive a matrix-securing means comprising a disk sleeve 6, a fastening nut 8 screwing into a clamping nut 9, said clamping nut having a conicalshaped threaded outer surface adapted to expand the outer periphery of expanding-ring 7 against the flanged .rim 1 ofthe matrix slielland thereby position it firmly at itsl center.

The outer periphery or rim of shell 1 is firmly secured to its supporting die 3 by means of a clamping ring 4, slightly overhanging the matrix and with its bearing face under-cut soas to provide an edge contact, as shown. This clampingring is secured to the supporting die 3 by means of stud bolts 5, and is soI shaped as to allow its inner edge to bear along the matrix rim, and its outer edge along the. outer periphery of the circun lar recess of the supporting plate 3, leaving space 12 between the central portion of ring 4 and plate 3.

It has been found that the best results are'i :obtained when the thickness of the insulating material between the supporting die and matrix is approximately five-hundredths of an inch, and when the temperature of the matrix at the time of placing the hot record material thereon'and before its temperaturev is raised by heat from the record material is around 120 F. This latter condition may be realized after the initial 'pressing by quick manipulation in removing the hardened record from its mold (the record being sutliciently hard to permit' its removal at said temperature) and placing a fresh batch of record material on the matrix and then quicklysubjecting it to pressure.

This invention makes possible the immediate removal of the record from the press,

instead of its. retention therein for cooling as now practised, the final cooling or hardening ofthe record occurring outside of the press. This permits of the press being. used solely for performing its primary functionnamely, pressing. y

A time interval of some thirty to forty seconds has been found suliicient to effectl cooling of a preed record to a point where it may safely be handled without buckling. This time linterval is-considerably less than that consumed with the resentfmethod emf ploying cooling water; ence the Savin of expense claimed for this improved met od. Moreover, it is determined that,this method givesv a superior V2gloss to the records and eliminates their sticking to the matrix after pressing. Then, too, important corollary advantages resulting through the use of this new method include a very considerable saving in boiler horse power due to decreased steam consumption, and greatly improved working conditions, in the press room, due to lessened heat radiation.

Tt will be understood, of course, that this method can be used equally well either in presses with hand removed and -inserted matrices, or in presses where the matrices are secured to the press platens.

Having thus set forth thenature of the invention, what is claimed herein is: 4

1. In the manufacture of sound records andthe like, the method of forming the records, which includes molding them between matrices heated solely by heat. from the record stock. Y l

2. A means of retaining' the heatI in the material while on a forming matrix, which includes the step of treating the material within a mold wherein the matrix-shell is thermally insulated from. its support.

3. 'A means of retaining the heat in the material whileon a forming matrix, which includes the step of treating the material within a mold wherein the matrix-shell and its support have interposed between them material of greater specific heat than the matrix'.

4. A means of retaining the heat in the materialwhile on a formingY matrix, which includes the step of treating the material within a mold wherein `the matrix and its support have interposed between them material of greater specific heat than either the matrix or its support.

5. A means of retaining the heat in the material while on aforming matrix, which includes the step of treating the materialwithin a mold wherein the matrix and its support have interposed between them material of lesser thermal conductivity than either.

6. Tn the manufacture of sound records and the like, the method of molding the records which includes .the step of treating the 'recordlmaterial within a mold wherein the matrices are heated solely by the heatof the record stock, and wherein each matrix isA cludes the .step of treating said material within a mold wherein the heat of plasticity is dissipated by absorption through the matrix into heat-insulating material therebehind and into a support for the same.

8. A means of hardening a thermoplastic sound record, which includesthe step oftreating the material within amold wherein the forming surface or shell of the recordstep of treating heate .forming member is thermally insulated from its supporting back, to reduce to a minimum 'the absorption of heat by the record-forming member.

9. In the manufacture of molded articles, the method of moldin which ,includes the material in a mold, the matrices of which are heated solely by the heat of, the material.

10. In the manufacture of molded articles, the method of moldin which includes the step of treating heate material in a mold, only the matrices of which are heated by the heat of the material.

11. A sound-record matrix comprising a thm record-forming shell separated from its support by thermal-insulation.

12. A sound-record matrix including a thin record-'forming shell separated from its support by material of greater specific heat.

13. An apparatus for cooling record-form- Y ing material from a plastic state, comprising Aao a shell matrix, a support therefor, and heatinsulating material between the matrix and support.

14. A molding-press matrix including a forming-shell, a sup ort therefor, and heatmsulation between t e shell and support.

15. A molding-press matrix comprising a forming-shell, a support therefor, and heatinsulation between the shell and-support and forming a part of the support.

16. A matrix structure for pressing sound` records, comprising a forming-shell, a support therefor, and a series of adjacent heatinsulating layers between the shell'and support, and form-ing a part of .the support.

17. A matrix structure for pressing sound records, including a forming-shell, ya support therefor, and a series of adjacent'layers of various thermal resistivities between thev shell and support, and forming a part of the support.

- 18. A matrix structure for forming sound records and the like, comprising a formingshell, a support therefor, and a series of heat-'insulating layers between `the shell and support, and forming a part of the support,

said layers being separated by metallic laminations.

19. The invention as in claim 15, in which the outer periphery of the shell is secured to its support by means of a removable clamping member. l

20. The invention as in claim 19, in which the clamping member is adjustable.

21. A method of manufacturing sound records and the like, including'\maintai1iing the matrices at an approximately constant temperature throughout thev operation.

2 2. A'sound-record matrix adapted to retain an approximately constant tem erature whilefin--use,-;compr1sing a thin orming-. shell separated from its supportby material of greater specifcheat.v il

mamas moplastic articles, a matrix and a support I thermally insulated therefrom, whereby the escape of the heat from the thermoplastic material will be retarded.

26. A method of manufacturing sound records, including maintaining the matrix support at a practically constant temperature throughoutV the operation.

.27. A sound-record forming-matrix which will quickly assume and holdsubstantially the same temperature as is given tothe record stock. i i

2,8."A matrix for pressing hot thermoplastic material, having its 'thermal capacity7 so proportioned initially assumes the temperature of the hot thermoplastic materia.

'29. A matrix for pressin' 'hot thermoplastic' material, having its t ermal conductivity so proportioned and distributed'that and distributed that it it 4initially assumes the temperature of the hotthermoplastic material.

30. A matrix for pressing hot thermoplastic material, having both lts thermal capacity and its thermal conductivity so proportioned and distributed that it initially assumes the approximate temperature of the hot thermoplastic material.

31. A matrix for forming hot thermoplastic material, having its thermal conductivity so proportioned and distributed to -the thermal capacity of the thermoplastic material that the matrix initially assumes the temperature of the hot thermoplastic material.

32. A matrix. for forming hot thermoplastic material, having its thermal conductivity so proportioned and distributed to the thermal capacity of the thermoplastic material that the matrix initially assumes the approximate temperature of the thermoplastic material, and ultimately cools the same.

33. A matrix for. 'forming hot. thermoplastic material,lthe thermal conductivity of the matrix and the thermal capacity of the matrix-shell so proportioned Aand distributed that it initially assumes the temperature of the hot thermoplastic material.

34. A matrix for forming hot thermoplastic material, the thermal conductivity of the matrix and the thermal capacity pf i vthe matrix-shell so proportioned andV distributed that it initially assumes the approximate temperature of the hot thermoplastic material, and ultimately cools the same. d

35. A matrix for forming hot thermoplastic material, the thermal conductivity of the matrix and the thermal capacity of the matrix-support so proportioned and distributed that it initially assumes the temperature ,of the hot thermoplastic material.

36. A matrix for .forming hot thermoplastic material, the thermal conductivity of the matrix and the thermal capacity of thematrix-support so proportioned and distributed that it initially assumes the approximate temperature of the hot thermoplastic material, and ultimately cools the same.

37. A matrix for forming hot thermoplastic material, comprising a matrix-shell and a matrix-support separated b thermal insulation, the thermal conductivity of the matrix and the thermal capacity of the thermal insulation so proportioned .and distributed that the matrix initially assumes the temperature of the hot thermoplastic material.

`38. A matrix for forming hot thermoplastic material, comprising a matrix-shell and a matrix-support separated b thermal insulation, the thermal conductivity of the matrix and the thermal capacity of the thermal insulation so proportioned and distributed that the matrix initially assumes the approximate temperature of the hot thermoplastic material, and ,ultimately cools the same.

39. A matrix for forming hot thermoplas- -tic material, the 'thermal conductivity of lto the matrix and the thermal capacity of the matrix-shell so proportioned and distributed with respect to the thermoplastic material, that the matrix initiallyxassumes the temperature of the hot thermoplastic material.

40. A matrix for forming hot thermoplastic material, the thermal conductivity of the matrix andthe thermal capacities of the matrix-shell and the matrix-support so proportioned and distributed with respect to the thermal capacity of the thermoplastic material, that `the matrix initially assumes the temperature of the hot thermoplastic material.

4l. A matrix for forming hot thermoplastic material, the thermal conductivity of the matrix and the thermal 'capacities of the matrix-shell and the matrix-support so proportioned and distributed with respect to' the thermal capacity ofthe thermoplastic material, that the 'matrix initiall assumes the approximate temperature o the hot thermoplastic material, and ultimately cools theA same.

42. A matrix for forming hot thermoplastic material, comprising a matrix-shell and a matrix-support separated by thermal insulation, the'.l thermal conductivity of the matrix and the thermal capacities of the' matrix-support and the insulation so proportioned and distributed with respect to the thermal capacity of the thermoplastic material, that the matrix initiall d assumes the temperature of the thermop astic material.

. 43. A matrix for forming hot thermoplastic material, comprising a matrix-shell and a matrix-support separated by thermal insulation, the thermal conductivity of the matrix and the thermal capacities of the matrix-shell, the matrix-support, and the insulation so proportioned and distributed With respect to the thermal capacity of the .thermoplastic material, that the matrix initially assumes the approximate temperature of the thermoplastic material, and ultimately cools the same.

44. A matrix for forming hot thermoplastic material, the thermal conductivity of the matrix and the thermal capacities of the matrix-shell and the matrix-support so proportioned and distributed that it initially assumes the temperature of the hot thermoplastic material. l

45. A matrix for forming hot thermoplastic material, the thermal conductivity ofthe matrix and the thermal capacities of the matrix-shell and the matrix-support so proportioned and distributed that it initially assumes the approximate-temperature of the hot thermoplastic material, and ultimately cools the same.

46. A matrix for forming hot thermoplastic material, the thermal conductivity of the matrix and the thermal capacities of the matrix-support and thev insulation so proportioned and distributed that it initially assumes the temperature of the hot thermoplastic material.

47. A matrix for forming hot thermo lastic material, the thermal conductivity o the matrix and the thermal capacities of the matrix-support and the insulation so proportioned and distributed that it initially assumes the approximate temperature of the hot thermoplastic material, and ultimately cools the same.

48. A matrix for forming hot thermoplastic material,- the thermal conductivity of the matrix and the thermal capacities of the matrix-shell, the matrixxsupport and the insulation so. proportioned and distributed that it initially assumes the temperature of the hot thermoplastic material. y

i 49. A'v matrix for formingV hot thermoplastic materiai, the thermal o'onductivity and the thermal capacities of the matrixshell, the matrix-support and the insulation so proportioned and distributed that it initially assumes the approximate temperature 4 of the hot thermoplastic material, and ultimately cools the same.

50. A matrix for forming hot thermoplas-V moplastic material thatthe matrix initially assumes the temperature of the hot thermoplastic material.

51. A matrix for forming hot thermoplastic material, including a matrix-shell and a backing member separated by insulation, the thermal conductivity of the'matrix being so proportioned and distributed to the thermal capacities of the insulation and the thermo- 'i plastic material that the matrix initially assumes the approximate temperature of the hot thermosplastic material, and ultimately cools the same. f

52. A matrix for forming thermoplastic material, including a matrix-'shell and amatrix-support, the thermal conductivity of the 4matrixshell and the thermal capacity of the matrix-support beinfr so proportioned `and ldistributed with reference to the thermal capacity of the thermo lastic material, that the matrix-shell initial y assumes the temperature of theithermopla'stic material.

53. A matrix for forming thermoplastic material, including a matrix-shell and a matrix-support,"the thermal 'conductivity of the matrix-shell-and the thermal capacity of the matrixsupport being so proportioned and distributed with reference to the thermal capacity of the thermoplastic material, that the matrix-shell initially assumes the approximate temperature of the thermoplastic material,-'and ultimately cools the same.

, 54. A matrix for forming hot thermoplastic material, comprising a matrix-shell and a a matrix-support separated by thermal insulation, the thermal conductivit of the matrix and the thermal capacities o its matrix- 4shell and the insulation so proportioned and distributed that the matrix initially assumes the temperature of the hot thermoplastic material.

55.- `A matrix for forming hot thermoplastic material, comprising a matrix-shell and a matrix-support separated by thermal insulation, the thermal conductivity of the matrix and the thermal capacities of its matrix-shell and the insulation so proportioned and distributed that the matrix initially assumes the approximate temperature of the hot thermoplastic material, and ultimately cools the same. A

56. A matrix for forming thermoplastic material, comprising a matrix-shell and Aa matrix-support separated b thermal insulation, the thermal conductivlty of the matrix being so proportioned and distributed with reference to the thermal. capacities of its thermoplasticmaterial, the matrlx-shell, and

the insulation, that the matrix initiall assumes the temperature of the thermop astic material.

57. A matrix for forming thermoplastic material, comprising a matrix-shell and a matrix-support separated by thermal insulation, the thermal conductivity of the matrix being so proportioned and distributed with reference to the thermal capacities of its thermoplastic material, the matrix-shell, and the insulation, that the matrix initially assumes the approximate temperature of the p thermoplastic material, and ultimately cools the same.

58. A matrix for forming thermoplastic material, comprising a matrix-shell and a matrix-support sepa-ratedv byl thermal in'sulation, the thermal conductivity of the matrix being so proportioned and distributed with reference to the thermal capacities of its thermoplastic material,'the matrix-support, and the insulation, that the matrix initially assumes the temperature of the thermoplastic material.

59. A matrix -for forming thermoplastic material, comprising a matrix-shell anda matrixlsupport separated by thermal insulation, the thermal conductivity of the matrix being so proportioned and distributed with reference to the thermal, capacities of its thermoplastic material, the matrix-support, and the insulation, that the matrix initially assumes the approximate temperature of the thermoplastic material, and ultimately cools the same.

60. A matrix for forming hot thermoi plastic material, comprising a matrix shell and a matrix support separated bythermal insulation so proportioned and distributed as4 to control both the initial and final temperatures in different parts of the Structure and at dierent periods in the operation, and the time-'interval required for various degrees of heat-How between the different the structure.

Si ed at Bridgeport, in the county of Fair eld and State of'Connecticut, this 3rd day of May, A. D. 1921.

" THEODORE C. ROBERTS.

parts of Certificate of Correction. l

It is hereby certified that in Letters Patent No. 1,481,743, granted January 22,

1924, upon the application of Theodore -C.'.1`{oberts, of New York, N.'Y., errors appear requiring correction as follows: In the grant, heading to the printed specieation and preamble, title of invention, for- -theword Disk read Disc and for Mediums readMeda; page 1, line 14, and page 3, line 11, for the 'word disk read disc; pagev 3, lines 86, 91, 98, 105,119, ,and`127, claims 2, 3, 4, 5, 7 and 8,V

for the words A means of read The method of molding while; page 5, line 123, claim 49, after the word conductivity insert the Words of the matrix," and that the said Letters Patent should be read with `.these `correotiims therein that the same may eonformlto the record of the case in', the Pat-ent OHice. l Signed and sealed this 18th day of March, A. D., 1924. i [smul KARL FENNING,

' 'Acting Uommzfsszloner of Patents. 

